What pilotlit charities tell us they’ve learnt
“It is a great process. I would recommend that any small charity that needs some direction to get involved with Pilotlight, because the support and mentoring that you receive from the business people involved cannot be bought. It’s excellent.”
David Reilly, Baillieston Community Care
“If people go through the Pilotlight process they need to be prepared for hard work. It takes a lot of time, thought and energy. It’s not easy, but I can’t stress how much difference it can make.”
Jean Rolfe, Green Corridor
"It opened up roads for us to be more direct in terms of managing performance and resources. Sometimes in the charitable sector we are too charitable for our own good and there are lessons to be learnt from colleagues in the business sector. Hard decisions need to be taken for the organisation’s future and we now feel more equipped to action these. We benefitted immensely from Pilotlight. It is going to change the organisation – it won’t be instantaneous – but we will be a more secure and sustainable service with a clear focus, thanks to this process.”
Dot Horne, Edinburgh Youth Cafe 6VT
'The Pilotlighters were able to give us a more commercial, business-like approach to managing our needs. They showed us there are things we can learn from the commercial world and it doesn’t necessarily mean selling your soul. They have given us a clear vision of where we are going and the importance of our work. It has put a spring in our step and given us a sense of professionalism.'
Linda Trew, acting manager, The Parent House
‘Now we have the knowledge, practical tools (such as risk analysis) and the confidence. Before, we weren’t thinking in a strategic, business way; as an organisation we have changed enormously. I think it’s fantastic. You have to be up for the challenge. You have to want to make change and be open because that is how you get the most out of it. The Pilotlighters bring such a different way of looking at things. For us, the process was provocative, stimulating and supportive at a difficult time.’
Hayley Field, co-director, Suffolk Artlink
“From a business perspective, if you had to put a value on the help and advice we’ve been given by Pilotlight it would be hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
Mark Davis, Centre of the Cell
“From not having a fundraising strategy at all, with Pilotlight’s help we developed one which enabled us to go on and win nearly half a million pounds in funding.”
Julie Wright, Unlock
“Pilotlight has given us so much confidence ... it was a very safe environment where we could talk honestly. The level of expertise was very high and we got the help we needed to go forward in developing a social enterprise. Our Pilotlighters are brilliant and it’s a wonderful process.”
Elaine Allison, Safeguarding Children Services
“Even if someone offered me £80,000 I would still go for my team of Pilotlighters! Pilotlighters provide a superb sounding board and I can’t recommend the scheme too highly. They give you a lot of confidence and help to create a balance between operational demands and the need for strategic development.”
Celine Sinclair, The Yard
“You can spend a lot of money on management training and come out of it not really knowing how to do it. Pilotlight was management training at its best. Very practical, very focused and very helpful.”
Penny Tyack, Reading Quest
“We would not have got to the position we have without Pilotlight. They have taken us on a huge journey which has dragged us out of the twinset and pearl mentality and put us on a more business-like footing. We use a word we never even looked at before and that’s profit!.”
Jane Winstanley, CCVS
“Pilotlight gave me the tools and space to reflect on the charity’s future and strategy ... as a director of a small charity I have to wear many different hats and I have to firefight everyday – I don’t normally have the luxury of time to reflect. Pilotlight helped us become more profitable . . . they were very motivating . . . helping us to plan and prepare.”
Katy Emck, Fine Cell Work